Posting all fines against employers under $50,000
Ontario is continuing to enhance safety for health-care professionals at work by implementing recommendations from the recently released Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care Report.
“Violence in our workplaces will not be tolerated. Progress on workplace violence in health care cannot wait — it is an urgent and serious issue,” said Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn.
The health-care sector represents 11.7 per cent of Ontario’s labour market and is the largest sector impacted by violence in the workplace. Violence claims make up 11 per cent of the lost-time injuries in hospitals.
Ontario's Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care Leadership Table endorsed 23 recommendations and outlined further practical steps needed to make hospitals safer, reduce incidents of workplace violence in hospitals and across the health sector, and change attitudes around safety for health-care workers. The leadership table brought together key stakeholders and experts, including patient advocates, to help develop the recommendations in this report focused on preventing violence against nurses.
Ontario is making progress on a number of these recommendations, including:
•Developing resources and supports to help hospitals create a psychologically safe and healthy workplace based on the Canadian Standards Association.
•Creating a campaign aimed at increasing awareness and preventing workplace violence amongst health-care professionals, including nurses.
•Increasing supports for patients with known aggressive or violent behaviours.
•Creating reliable reporting systems for workplace violence incidents.
•Posting information about all government fines against employers in health care under $50,000.
The leadership table will continue to work on recommendations to help prevent violence against all hospital workers and the broader health-care sector.
